ANDERSON
POSTS MILESTONE PERFORMANCE AT TORCO RACING FUELS NHRA NATIONALS
Schumacher and Hight also are qualifying leaders at Virginia Motorsports
Park
Story by NHRA
Photos by Les Welch
DINWIDDIE,
Va. -- Greg Anderson made drag racing history Friday when he recorded
the sport's first 6.5-second Pro Stock pass. Anderson covered Virginia
Motorsports Park's quarter-mile track in 6.598 seconds to lead
qualifying at the $1.6 million Torco Racing Fuels NHRA Nationals.
Tony Schumacher and Robert Hight are the other provisional qualifying
leaders at the event, the 21st of 23 races in the $50 million NHRA
POWERade Series.
A potential national record, Anderson's mark could be worth 20
championship points if it holds through the weekend. Currently, Anderson
trails Summit Racing Pontiac GTO teammate Jason Line by 56 points for
the top spot in the POWERade standings. Line is second here with a 6.602
at 209.26 mph, the fastest Pro Stock speed in history.
"It's a lot of fun to race under conditions like this," Anderson said.
"Everyone in the pits is smiling because everyone just ran their
personal bests. Whenever you do that, you've accomplished something and
we're all there."
Anchored by Virginian Jim Yates' 6.658, the Pro Stock class has set its
quickest field ever for the second race in a row.
Schumacher's 4.512 at 313.37 mph in his U.S. Army dragster came in the
first Top Fuel session. If Schumacher's top qualifying effort holds it
would be his 12th of the season, an NHRA record.
"It's a brand-new track for all of us, basically," Schumacher said. "I
can't even remember running here. They've repaved it and it's different
than it was, but we came out and went 4.51. Perfect. The weather is
supposed to be great tomorrow so I can't see that 4.51 holding. We
should be way quicker. We'll be in the 4.40s for sure. You couldn't ask
for better air. Everyone is running great."
Rookie of the Year candidate and three-time season winner J.R. Todd was
one of the drivers to improve in the cool night air of the second
session, posting a 4.534 at 313.68 mph to move up to second place in his
Skull Shine dragster. POWERade Series leader Doug Kalitta is fourth with
a 4.549, which he posted on the last run of the day in his Mac Tools
dragster.
Hight, who has had the best Funny Car in posting final round appearances
at the last three races, including two victories, continues to dominate
in his Auto Club Ford Mustang, racing to the provisional pole with a
4.751 at 311.05 mph.
